Harry Barton (June 17, 1876 – May 9, 1937) was an American architect in practice in Greensboro, North Carolina, from 1912 until his death in 1937.

Life and career Harry Barton was born June 17, 1876, in Philadelphia to Edmund Barton, a contractor and builder, and Emma Barton, née Goodwin. He was educated in the Philadelphia public schools and at the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades before going on to Temple University and George Washington University. He worked for several architects in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, and spent a decade working as a draftsman and architect in the office of the Supervising Architect. In 1912 he relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina, which he regarded as a "city with a future." After a brief partnership with architect Frank A. Weston he established an independent office. Within a few years Barton was awarded the commission to design the Guilford County Courthouse (1920, NRHP-listed) and in the 1920s emerged as the city's leading architect.North Carolina: Rebuilding an Ancient Commonwealth, vol. 3 (Chicago and New York: American Historical Society Inc., 1928): 27.

As an architect Barton designed courthouses, city halls, public schools, churches and other buildings. He designed the majority of the buildings built on the campus of what is now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the 1920s. During the Great Depression, Barton maintained his practice with a focus on public projects, such as the Alleghany County Courthouse (1933, NRHP-listed) in Sparta. By this time Barton's chief local competition was Charles C. Hartmann. As the leading local architect Barton was the collaborator of choice for outside architects working in the area; for Hobart Upjohn he supervised construction of the First Presbyterian Church (1929). Barton practiced architecture until his death in 1937.

Typically for an architect of his time, Barton designed his buildings in a wide variety of traditional revival styles, especially the Classical, Georgian and Gothic revivals. Later, he drew on more exotic styles such as the Spanish Colonial and Venetian Gothic revivals or transitional modernist styles such as Art Deco.

Personal life Barton was married to Rachel S. Phillips; they had three children, all daughters. He was a member of several local and fraternal organizations and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro and sat on the State Board of Architectural Examination and Registration.

Barton died May 9, 1937, in Greensboro at the age of 60.

Legacy A number of his works, called out below, are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Architectural works 1916: Surry County Courthouse, Dobson, North Carolina"Surry County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. Designed by Raleigh James Hughes and Harry Barton, joint architects; NRHP-listed 1919: Church of the Covenant, Presbyterian (former), Greensboro, North CarolinaMarvin A. Brown and Kaye Graybeal, College Hill Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (1993) Contributes to the NRHP-listed College Hill Historic District 1919: John Marion Galloway House, Greensboro, North CarolinaAlice Moore, John Marion Galloway House National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form (1983) NRHP-listed and contributes to the NRHP-listed Fisher Park Historic District 1920: Buffalo Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, North CarolinaDavyd Foard Hood, Buffalo Presbyterian Church National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (2002) Additions and alterations to an 1827-built church; NRHP-listed 1920: Guilford County Courthouse, Greensboro, North Carolina"Guilford County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. NRHP-listed 1921: Johnston County Courthouse, Smithfield, North Carolina"Johnston County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. NRHP-listed 1923: Chancellor's House, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina"Chancellor's House," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. As of 2026, used by UNCG Undergraduate Admissions 1924: Alamance County Courthouse, Graham, North Carolina"Alamance County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. NRHP-listed 1924: Brown Building, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina"Brown Music Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. 1924: Cone Export and Commission Company Building, Greensboro, North Carolina"Cone Export and Commission Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. As of 2026, an office building known as Foundation Place 1924: First United Methodist Church, Asheboro, North Carolina"First Methodist Church," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. 1924: Greensboro Municipal Building, Greensboro, North Carolina"Greensboro City Hall," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. Demolished 1926: Asbury United Methodist Church, Durham, North CarolinaClaudia Roberts Brown, Trinity Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (1986) Contributes to the NRHP-listed Trinity Historic District 1926: Cumberland County Courthouse, Fayetteville, North Carolina"Cumberland County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. NRHP-listed and contributes to the NRHP-listed Fayetteville Downtown Historic District 1926: Curry Building, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina"New Curry Education Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. 1926: Reidsville Municipal Building (former), Reidsville, North Carolina"Reidsville Municipal Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. As of 2026, home to the Reidsville Police Department 1926: Sigmund Sternberger House, Greensboro, North CarolinaMarvin A. Brown, Sigmund Sternberger House National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (1993) NRHP-listed and contributes to the NRHP-listed Summit Avenue Historic District 1926: World War Memorial Stadium, Greensboro, North CarolinaDavyd Foard Hood, World War Memorial Stadium National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (2001) NRHP-listed 1927: Auditorium, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina"Aycock Auditorium," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. Formerly named for Charles Brantley Aycock 1927: High Point Central High School, High Point, North Carolina"High Point Central High School," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. 1927: Piedmont Building, Greensboro, North Carolina"Piedmont Building," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. 1927: Galen L. Stone Hall, Palmer Memorial Institute (former), Sedalia, North CarolinaLaura A. W. Phillips, Palmer Memorial Institute Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (1988) Contributes to the NRHP-listed Palmer Memorial Institute Historic District 1928: First Presbyterian Church, High Point, North Carolina"First Presbyterian Church," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. Designed by Harry Barton and Hobart Upjohn, joint architects 1929: First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, North Carolina"First Presbyterian Church," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. Designed by Hobart Upjohn, architect, with Harry Barton, associate architect; contributes to the NRHP-listed Fisher Park Historic District 1930: First Baptist Church, Siler City, North CarolinaBeth Keane and Kaye Graybeal, North Third Avenue Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (2000) Contributes to the NRHP-listed North Third Avenue Historic District 1931: Masonic Temple, Mount Airy, North Carolina"Granite Lodge No. 322," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. 1933: Alleghany County Courthouse, Sparta, North Carolina"Alleghany County Courthouse," North Carolina Architects & Builders, no date. Accessed May 31, 2026. NRHP-listed

References

External links

Guide to the Harry Barton Architectural Drawings 1923-1924